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US4381623A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Add-water funnel and card holder

Assignee: Dakota Plastics Co
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Filing: 1981-12-28
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Granted: 1983-05-03
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Expires: 2001-12-28
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Abstract

Abstract A sculptured water funnel and card holder structure insertable into a block of floral foam or the like to supply water to cut flowers having their cut ends inserted into the block. The structure includes a funnel which may be molded together with a card holder and a retainer clip, so that when the card holding element is detached from the funnel, the clip secures the card holder onto a lip of the funnel. The lower end of the funnel is joined to an upper end of a tubular member for exiting water from its lower end. The tubular member is supported by an insertion device received into the lower end thereof and has its other end received into a floral foam block. A barrier is provided at an intermediate point of the insertion device tending to preclude insertion of the barrier into the foam beyond the adjacent surface of the foam.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arnold A. Koistinen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 03:17
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G5/00; A01G5/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
A water funnel arrangement for cut flowers including a structure for funnelling water onto a surface of a body of foam material for receiving cut ends of cut flowers, the arrangement comprising a funnel, the funnel having a large opening for receiving water and a small opening for passing water therefrom, a tubular member having an opening at its upper end connected with the small opening of the funnel and for passing water through the tubular member and for exit of the water at the lower end onto a body of foam material, an elongated longitudinal fin equipped insertion means being received into the lower end of the tubular member for allowing the passage of water and for insertion into said body of foam material, the insertion means having barrier means intermediate its length for limiting the depth of insertion of the insertion means by engaging the surface of the foam material and for varying the flow of water from the lower end of the tubular member by varying, slightly, the spacing of said barrier means from the lower end of the tubular member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 184 words
A water funnel arrangement for cut flowers including a structure for funnelling water onto a surface of a body of foam material for receiving cut ends of cut flowers, the arrangement comprising a funnel, the funnel having a large opening for receiving water and a small opening for passing water therefrom, a tubular member having an opening at its upper end connected with the small opening of the funnel and for passing water through the tubular member and for exit of the water at the lower end onto a body of foam material, an elongated longitudinal fin equipped insertion means being received into the lower end of the tubular member for allowing the passage of water and for insertion into said body of foam material, the insertion means having barrier means intermediate its length for limiting the depth of insertion of the insertion means by engaging the surface of the foam material and for varying the flow of water from the lower end of the tubular member by varying, slightly, the spacing of said barrier means from the lower end of the tubular member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 219 words
A water funnel arrangement for cut flowers including a structure for funnelling water onto a surface of a body of foam material for receiving cut ends of cut flowers, the arrangement comprising a funnel, the funnel having a large opening for receiving water and a small opening for passing water therefrom, a tubular member having an opening at its upper end connected with the small opening of the funnel and for passing water through the tubular member and for exit of the water at the lower end onto a body of foam material, an elongated insertion means being received into the lower end of the tubular member for allowing the passage of water and for insertion into said body of foam material, the insertion means having barrier means intermediate its length for limiting the depth of insertion of the insertion means by engaging the surface of the foam material, a card holder also formed of molded material, the card holder being oblong for forming a holder means at a free end and a support means at another end terminating in a severable notched means secured to the funnel for being severed from the funnel, the support means frictionally engaging alternate walls of the funnel, so that the card holder is removed and replaced when adding water to the funnel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 219 words
A water funnel arrangement for cut flowers including a structure for funnelling water onto a surface of a body of foam material for receiving cut ends of cut flowers, the arrangement comprising a funnel, the funnel having a large opening for receiving water and a small opening for passing water therefrom, a tubular member having an opening at its upper end connected with the small opening of the funnel and for passing water through the tubular member and for exit of the water at the lower end onto a body of foam material, an elongated insertion means being received into the lower end of the tubular member for allowing the passage of water and for insertion into said body of foam material, the insertion means having barrier means intermediate its length for limiting the depth of insertion of the insertion means by engaging the surface of the foam material, a card holder also formed of molded material, the card holder being oblong for forming a holder means at a free end and a support means at another end terminating in a severable notched means secured to the funnel for being severed from the funnel, the support means frictionally engaging alternate walls of the funnel, so that the card holder is removed and replaced when adding water to the funnel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the set of support legs are augmented by clip means extending from an intermediate portion of the card holder structure, and wherein the foam material is plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the support means includes a set of support legs at the other end and for frictionally engaging the funnel walls along opposite sides thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the card holder means is generally flat throughout and has a slit for receiving a card, the holder and the card having informational indicia thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The invention of claim 2 wherein the card holder means includes clip means for frictionally securing contact onto the funnel by means of an inturned end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 214 words
A card holder arrangement for cut flowers and use with a structure for funnelling water into a body of foam plastic material which foam plastic material is for receiving cut ends of cut flowers, the arrangement comprising a card holder means formed as a molded means being oblong and having a free end for supporting a card and support means at another end terminating in a means for being secured to the funnel, the card holder means including a C-shaped cut for receiving and resiliently holding a card in the C-shaped cut, a funnel formed of molded material, the funnel having a large opening for receiving water and a small opening for passing water therethrough, a tubular member having an opening at its upper end for receiving the small opening of the funnel and for passing water through the tubular member and for exit of the water at the lower end onto a body of foam plastic, and an elongated insertion means being received into the lower end of the tubular member for allowing the passage of water and for insertion into said body of foam plastic material, the insertion means having barrier means intermediate its length for limiting the depth of the insertion means to a proximate surface of the foam plastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 214 words
A card holder arrangement for cut flowers and use with a structure for funnelling water into a body of foam plastic material which foam plastic material is for receiving cut ends of cut flowers, the arrangement comprising a card holder means formed as a molded means being oblong and having a free end for supporting a card and support means at another end terminating in a means for being secured to the funnel, the card holder means including a C-shaped cut for receiving and resiliently holding a card in the C-shaped cut, a funnel formed of molded material, the funnel having a large opening for receiving water and a small opening for passing water therethrough, a tubular member having an opening at its upper end for receiving the small opening of the funnel and for passing water through the tubular member and for exit of the water at the lower end onto a body of foam plastic, and an elongated insertion means being received into the lower end of the tubular member for allowing the passage of water and for insertion into said body of foam plastic material, the insertion means having barrier means intermediate its length for limiting the depth of the insertion means to a proximate surface of the foam plastic material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the holder means is generally flat throughout and has a slit for receiving a card, the holder and the card having informational indicia thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
The invention of claim 7 wherein the card holder structure includes clip means for frictionally securing contact onto the funnel and the support means includes a set of legs.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE202146C Cited
US2040750A Cited
US2717463A Cited
US2809468A Cited
US3057093A Cited
US3066447A Cited
US3177617A Cited
US4037361A Cited
US4170948A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-05-02 1986-11-01 1987-05-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-05-02 1990-11-01 1991-05-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-05-02 1994-11-01 1995-05-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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